Mia turned at the sound of a deep husky voice, and gazed at Ryder, her betrothed. He was tall, broad shouldered, and his eyes were the color of roasted chestnuts. Their intense gaze reached into her soul, and managed to melt her worries while stirring her heart to a fever pitch. She accepted his outstretched hand and smiled. He was her heart, and the reason they both stood on the shores of their home, ready to cast aside everything they knew. Her toes curled into the silky grains of white sand like an anchor, but she knew she must let go and set sail.

“It’s now or never,” she said, giving him a brief smile.

Ryder smoothed a rough hand across her cheek, and she closed her eyes. Falling in love in Annwn came with a price, and she was willing to pay if it meant there was a happy ever after with Ryder, the man who possessed her heart. Once a couple took The Promise, an ancient law which pledged them to each other, they must complete a challenge that would test the power of their love and magic.

If their love did not survive they would remain mortal, and in a world where they did not belong. At this thought, her arms dropped to her side, and once more the waves thrashed upon the shore. The roar of the ocean as it crashed against the rocks echoed inside Mia Leronde’s ears, and she stared as the white foam fizzled and dissolved into the sand. Usually the sheer power of nature revived her, but today there was nothing but despair.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” said Emrys. “We can look at another way to complete your challenge—but once you enter their world, your memories of Annwn and Ryder will be locked away inside your mind until the awakening. The spell will be cast from the moment we leave, and I cannot say how old you will be. The magic in this area is unpredictable, but I will aim for you to be teenagers once more.” Emrys dipped his head low, and his gravelly voice wavered to silence.

“So, we will be human?” She let go of Ryder’s hand and grabbed his cotton shirt, tugging him closer.

“Mia, you’ll always be you, but as you step into the human world your immortality is relinquished, your magic suppressed. Memories of Annwn and Ryder will disappear. You will experience life as every other human, and face the challenges their world has. I will guide your path toward each other, but it’s your love for Ryder that will help overcome the obstacles in your way to unity,” Emrys said.

A flapping of wings and a wail of ear-piercing squeals filled the skies. Mia clasped her hands over her nose, and tears filled her eyes. It was Gerty and Jasper, Mia and Ryder’s pet serpents. The two pale green and leathery-scaled creatures landed on the soft sand with a thump, their wings flapped and then settled, but their long, thick tails bashed against the ground. They furiously ducked and nodded their heads skywards, squealing continuously.

“They don’t want us to go,” Mia said as she approached the gentle-looking creatures that purred, nudging their heads against her waiting hand. Mia stroked first one, then the other. She massaged their baby-soft scales in a soothing circular motion, and the creatures batted against her palm in approval.

“They want us to go for a ride. They don’t realize we’re leaving,” Mia said.

At that moment, a buzzing and whirring sound filled the air. Mia couldn’t see Ryder as hundreds of swarming colorful fairies, the size of her hand, surrounded her. Their voices all merged together to say one thing.

“Don’t go Mia. Don’t go.”

A flash of white light dispersed the fairies, and Mia saw Emrys and Ryder frowning. The fairies continued to voice their opinion, but silently.

Darkshadows. It’s not what you believe to be true.

“Hush now,” Emrys ordered. “It is time for Mia and Ryder to leave. Wish them a safe journey.”

Ryder clasped Mia’s hand and pulled her against his chest. She frowned as she listened to the message from the fairies. Could she be heading into danger?

Ryder lifted her chin with his finger, so she had no choice but to look into his eyes.

“You already look human in your clothes,” he said, as his gaze took in her snugly fitted faded jeans, long-sleeved black T-shirt, and boots.

A smile lifted the corners of Mia lips. “I love their clothing.”

Ryder’s gaze swept over Mia from head to foot, and then rested on her face.

“I suppose, I could get used to it,” he said, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her in close laying tender kisses on her lips.

Mia was one of the last of her kind, a Guardian of Annwn, a peacekeeper of her world and the mortals’. Only those with the strongest magic were given such a role. She glanced around, looking toward the cliff. The Otherworld, Annwn, was a realm on earth, shielded from human eyes by powerful magic. Its exact location a highly guarded secret, but legends and Welsh folklore suggested that it lay along the shores of Wales.

Mia smiled, recalling the history lessons about King Arthur and the Druids, and sighed because that was when everything changed for the children of Annwn. In those days humans told tales and whispered about the Otherworld, reciting scary stories of Annwn, saying that it was a place for the lost souls and that sometimes the inhabitants would steal into the human world to watch the mortals at play.

Annwn did have its share of lost souls, but it was mostly a beautiful land of plenty. The Wise Elders were at the helm, enforcing all the laws of the land, and the people lived in peace. Food was grown with the help of the land, and the people lived in harmony with nature. Of course, few humans believed in magic or Annwn.

Watchers from Annwn visited the human world to observe their exploits, but it was never with the intention of causing harm, but to help. However, evil resides in the most unexpected places. Mia shivered as she thought of the Darkshadows and the evil witch Rhiannon, about whom she knew very little.

After the fall of King Arthur, Annwn closed its doors to the humans, refusing to assist, and strict laws were created to maintain its privacy, peace, and security. One of those laws was The Promise. Mia stared briefly across the endless glossy water, and her hair danced wildly as the wind whirled around and then back at the headland.

Mist rolled off the grassy slopes on the hillside. The purple and pink slashes of light in the sky stained the sandstone, on the castle that abutted the cliff, a beautiful rose color. The majestic fortress stood guard over the menacing sea, a foreboding sight to any that dared to enter Annwn. The milky white sun peeped from behind the curtains of clouds as they rolled past, and she inhaled deeply, capturing all before her, soaking in the very essence of her home, hoping beyond hope that one day she would return and with Ryder.

“Come, it’s time. The portal’s ready,” Emrys urged, beckoning for them to follow.

It was too late to turn back, and as her heart hammered in her chest, Mia stepped forward.

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